Increased profitability and energy savings potential with the use of precision irrigation

Energy is currently one of the main production costs in irrigated agriculture and its cost must always be considered in irrigation projects. In regions such as the Brazilian Cerrado, where there is a continuous growth of irrigated agriculture, it is important to evaluate technologies that can increase the efficiency and viability of irrigation. Precision irrigation has great potential to increase the economic return on rural properties with a reduction in electricity consumption. The present work aimed to evaluate the increased profitability and energy savings potential of the soybean crop using precision irrigation with a center pivot. To evaluate the potential benefits of precision irrigation (PI), irrigation demand was simulated through modeling. The irrigation computer model was developed in Python language. The study was carried out in the area of two center pivots with soils with different hydro-physical characteristics. Soil available water capacity (AWC) was calculated based on field capacity, permanent wilting point and bulk density data. The irrigation management under homogeneous soil conditions was carried out considering the lowest, the average, and the highest AWC value. The management under variable conditions was carried out individually for each pixel, considering the real AWC value of the pixel. Also, four sowing dates of the soybean crop were considered in a rainy year and a dry year. The results indicated an average energy savings potential (ESP) of 5.0% in the rainy year and 4.5% in the dry year. The average potential for increasing profitability (IPP) was 20.4% in the rainy year and 12.5% in the dry year. The use of PI can reach ESPs of up to 25.3% and IPPs of up to 106.2%. The benefits documented here are an important step towards the development of precision irrigation as an efficient irrigation management strategy.

Automated summary

This study evaluates the profitability and energy savings potential of precision irrigation in the soybean crop in the Brazilian Cerrado region. By simulating the irrigation demand, the study finds the energy savings potential and profitability increase potential in both rainy and dry years. The results indicate that the use of precision irrigation can significantly improve economic returns and reduce energy consumption.